| Geography is the study of the
relationship between people and the land. Geographers(地理学家) compare and
contrast{{U}} (51) {{/U}}places on the earth. But they also{{U}}
(52) {{/U}}beyond the individual places and consider the earth as a{{U}}
(53) {{/U}}. The word geography comes from two Greek words, ge , the
Greek word for "earth" and graphein,{{U}} (54) {{/U}} "to write". The
English word geography means "to describe the earth".{{U}} (55)
{{/U}}geography books focus on a small area like a town or city.
Others deal with a state, a region, a nation, or an{{U}} (56)
{{/U}}continent. Many geography books deal with the whole earth. Another{{U}}
(57) {{/U}}to divide the study of{{U}} (58) {{/U}}is
to distinguish between physical geography and cultural geography. The
former focuses on the natural world; the{{U}} (59) {{/U}}starts with
human beings and studies how human beings and their environment act{{U}}
(60) {{/U}}each other. But when geography is considered as a single
subject,{{U}} (61) {{/U}}branch can neglect the other. A geographer might be described{{U}} (62) {{/U}}one who observes, records, and explains the{{U}} (63) {{/U}}between places. If places were alike, there would be little need for geographers. We know, however, {{U}}(64) {{/U}}no two places are exactly the same. Geography, then is a point of view, a special way of{{U}} (65) {{/U}}at places. |